Coupling



Sept. 8, 1931. E, JOHNSON 1,822,149`

COUPLING Filed Jan. 23, 1928 wlllll/l//fll EY VQ.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN EDWARD JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS COUPLING- Application filed January 23, 1928. Serial No. 248,811.

My invention relates to improvements in couplings and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein de scribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a coupling which is adapted to be used for connecting shafts having their center lines out of alignment, and which has novel means for allowing unobstructed rotationof the shafts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is especially adapted'for use in connection with armatures, due to the adjustability for preventing a strain upon the armatures.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the movable contact portions are interchangeable, thus lengthening the life ofthe device.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the vinvention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming partof this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, a portion thereof being broken away,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of my device, a portion thereof being broken away,

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a detailed view of one of the bushings. Y

In carryingl out my invention, I provide a body portion 1 having diametrically-op posed retaining recesses 2, 3, 4 and 5 disposed therein. These recesses are provided with arcuate-shaped walls 6 for retaining bushings 7 which are disposed within the recesses. The bushings 7 are substantially cylindrical in 'general contour. One end of each of the bushings is arc shaped, and each bushing is provided with a rectangular-shaped'opening 8 extending from the opposite end and terminating short of said arcshaped end.

Connecting forks 9 and 10 are provided. The fork 9 may be termed as a fixed forli for I a reason hereinafter described, and the fork 10 may be termed as a movable forli. The forks 9 and 10 are substantially identical in construction, each being provided with substantially rectangular arm members. T he arm `members ofthe fork 9 are indicated at 11, and the arm members of the fork 10 arer indicated at 1 2. The arm members 11 of the fork 9 have riveted ends 13, thus providing retaining beads 14. The arm members 12 of the fork 10`are relatively long and are similar in shape throughout. The fork members 9 and 1() maybe provided with aconnectingl portion of any ldesire-d shape or size without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The openings 8 ofthe bushings 7 are arranged to receive the arm members 11 and thereof ymay be readily understood. It is obvious that the coupling may be used for 12. A retaining ring 1 5 is disposed concen tric with the body portion 1 for holding the operatively connecting any two shafts which are out of general alignment, But for an illustration which mayV bring out all the features of the invention let us `assume that the coupling is employed for operatively connecting a motor shaft, i. e., a shaftfrom the armature of a motor to another shaftwhich is out of alignment with the motor or armature shaft. It is a well known fact that the armature must be in a floating position within the motor and that stress or strain applied to vary the position of the armature would be detrimental thereto. Let us assume that the fork 10 is operatively connected to the motor shaft indicated at 19 and that the fork 9 is operatively connected to a driven shaft indicated at 20. It is obvious that the fork 1() may be swung through an arc with respect tothe body portion 1 employing Ythe centers of its bushings as itsaXis.- It will further be observed that the fork may be swung through an arc in a plane which is at right angles to the plane of the arc through which the fork 10 may be swung. The fork 9, as will be noted, is swung about the centers of its bushings as its axis.

Let us assume that the motor, not shown,

is in motion and that the motor sha-ft is rotating which will cause rotationV of the coupling and the driven shaft 20. Daring the rotation of these parts, the pivotal connections of the forks with the body portion permit the ready rotation of the two shafts. Furthermore, the fact that the yfork 10 is not rigidly held against lateral dis-placement gives a floating connection in the coupling, thus allowing for any unusual longitudinal movement. lThis also allowsthe coupling to connect two shafts which are out of general alignment with `respect to each other,vobviating .the need-of fine adjustments which are needed in some cases.

The body portion 1 may be constructed of any durable material, such as hardened steel, so that it will not wear. The bushings `are made preferably of a less Adurable metal, such as bronze, babbitt, -or other materials commonly used for bushings `or bearings.

Therefore the only frictional contacts are i the contacts of the bushings with the arcuateshaped wall 6 ofthe body portion 1. The main wear therefore is upon the bushings and these bushings -may be kreadily removed by first removing the retain-ing ring 15. The life of the coupling may then be renewed by inserting vnew bushings. Fiber washers or discs 21 are disposed between the-body portion 1 and each of the' arms :11 and l2 and their `respective bushings for the purpose Vof preventing a knocking of the metal parts together.

One of the main features of my invention is to provide removable-or replaceablebushings. Due to the yfact that the bushings may be removed and `may be replaced .by any bushings makes it possible to employ bushings constructed :of various materials, such as brass, .babbitt, bakelite, phosphor-bronze, fibroid, hard rubber or ha-rd fiber. r-lhe last mentioned group of materials require little xor no oilidu'r-infg the operation y-of the device,

'due to the Contact :between the bushings and the body portion which is to a great degree Y frictionless.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a cylindrical body portion having recesses extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, said recesses being provided with arcuate-shaped walls, cylindrical bushings carried in said recesses, each of said bushings having an opening therethrough, a fork having a pair of arms arranged to enter certain of said openings, a second fork fhavi-ng arms arranged to enter openings at right angles to the first-named openings, a retaining ring carried by said body portion for Yhold-ing said bushings in position, locking screws for holding said retaining ring Vin position, a driving shaft member connected with one of said forks, and a driven shaft member connected with the other fork.

2. A device fof the type described compris- :ing :a cylindrical Ibody V,portion having recesses extending `inwardly from the periphery thereof, said recessesfbeing provided with arcuate-shaped walls, cylindrical bushings carried insaid recesses, each of said bushings hav-ing an :arc-shapedend conforming to and .adapted to register with kthe'outer surface of the cylindrical body portion and being provided with a rectangular opening extending from the opposite end of the bushing, a fork having' a pair-of arms arranged to-ent'er certain 1of saidopenings, a second fork having arms arranged to enter lopenings at right `angles .to :the :first-named openings, a retainy in'g ringcarried by said body portion `for vholding-said bushings -in position, means for holdingsaid retaining ring in position, a driving shaft member connected withone of said forks, `and a Vdriven shaft member con `rnected with the other fork.

3. VIn a kdevice-of the type described, a-cylindrical body Vportion having recesseskextending inwardly from the periphery thereof, said recesses Vhaving'arcuate-shaped walls, cylindrical bushings disposed in said recesses, :each of said Abushings having an arc-.shaped end arranged to :register with the periphery fof .the cylindrical body portion andbeing provided with .an openingV extending lfrom.

"the Yopposite end and terminating short of the arc-shaped end, and a retaining ring 'arranged .to fit over the ycylindrical body portion and in contact with the arc--shapedends Yof the bushings for holding said bushings inVrl position.

4. In a device ofthe type described, a cylindrical body portion having recesses extending inwardly firom 4the periphery there- "of, said recesses having arcuate-shaped walls,

cylindrical bushings :disposed'in said recesses, each of said bushings having an arc-shaped en-'d arranged to register with the periphery .of the .cylindrical body portion and being provided with ian opening extending from the opposite end and terminating short of the are-shaped end, a retaining ring arranged to fit over the cylindrical body por* tion and in Contact with the arc-shaped ends of the bushings for holding said bushings in position, and means for maintaining said retaining ring in fixed position.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 20th day of January.

JOHN EDWARD JOHNSON. 

